The Santai, Umalas Villa, Seminyak, Bali Review

Step off the plane from a 19-hour plane journey and you are going to need an instant hit of rest and recuperation in luxury surroundings. Lucky for us on a recent trip to Bali our first stopover was The Santai Umalas villa on the outskirts of the increasingly popular and bustling, Seminyak, just 45 minutes away from Denpasar airport. This beautifully elegant villa complex consists of a modern, industrial style design, with tucked away villas offering premium levels of comfort that come with your very own Butler. Our two-bedroom luxury villa was nothing short of outstanding, with the two self-contained bedrooms separated by its very own private pool, decking and delightfully maintained gardens. Within the main residence there was a lovely master bedroom, comfy lounge area, a well-equipped kitchen with cooking facilities and an intimate dining area should you fancy a quiet night in. There is a choice of sublime in-room dining menus to choose from should you wish to dine in your room. After a long flight, especially travelling with young children, this is a fantastic option for weary travellers. The dishes are deliciously authentic, and we would encourage you to experience this culinary experience, especially the Japanese dumplings, duck curry and teriyaki beef. There is a complimentary ‘soft drink’ mini bar and a free flow of drinking water is available to keep the whole family hydrated throughout the day. Alcoholic drinks can also be ordered for you to enjoy in your villa. Both villa bedrooms were equally impressive, with a clear focus on providing the ultimate comfort for its guests. Both had a huge adjoining en-suite bathroom with an outside shower, bath tub and toilet, each configured with a very clear attention to guest privacy with the use of living walls and plants to soften its boundaries. There were essential bath and shampoo toiletries, bathrobes, slippers and a hairdryer provided for guests to use freely. The position of the hotel is such that you have a small selection of eateries a brief walk away, but if you are looking to explore lively Seminyak in its full glory, the staff will arrange private transport to and from the hotel. We would recommend pre-booking your transport to avoid disappointment. Sadly, we didn’t have much time to explore the area on this occasion, but on previous visits here have always led to memorable nights out with a delectable number of restaurants to choose from catering for every budget. After an uninterrupted night’s sleep, and after a wonderful lie in, we headed to the Gong restaurant for breakfast. Guests either have the choice of attending the restaurant or calling for room service to enjoy having their breakfast in private. As you’d expect there was extensive choice of delicious fruits, pastries, juices as well as some traditional Indonesian flavours such as Nasi Goreng. Guests can choose a starter, main, a fresh juice and choice of hot drink – the breakfast really was a treat and the perfect start to the day. For those looking for complete convenience and indulgence there are lots of activities for all the family to take advantage of. Alternatively, if you crave some quality couple time and want to keep the kids entertained there are some fabulous child-friendly activities to explore. You will find push bikes to use at your leisure, however it’s advisable to go out early in the morning for your own safety to miss the swarms of mopeds, cars and taxis. Or if you fancy relaxing by the pool and hanging out as a family you are most welcome to hire fun inflatables by the hour, per day or weekly – that’s the kid’s entertainment wrapped up for hours! Alternatively, why not partake in the family orientated Balinese dance class or towel art class. Finally, for adults only there are some magical massages to indulge in as well as yoga and meditation classes for your optimum wellbeing. You can also learn the art of Balinese massage with your own professional spa therapist! To sum up, The Santai is ideal for couples and families alike, whether you are looking to acclimatise after a long journey, base yourself here for your entire holiday or simply escape the hustle and bustle for a few days. We absolutely loved it here, and simply can’t sign off without mentioning the outstanding Balinese hospitality you will experience. Nothing is too much trouble and there is a genuine smile around every corner of this stunning villa resort.